Consumer fireworks

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A selection of consumer-grade fireworks - rockets, artillery shells, smoke balls, and others

Consumer fireworks are fireworks sold for use by the general public. They are generally weaker in explosive power than the fireworks used in professional displays.

However, their use can be dangerous and lead to fires and accidents.

A sparkler firework lit by a candle

Daytime fireworks

Consumer fireworks are often quite small and can be classified into three groups: daytime, nighttime, and novelty fireworks.

Using a punk to light a rocket

Daytime fireworks include most bottle rockets, smoke balls, firecrackers, and other fireworks that emit very little or no light. Some examples of daytime consumer fireworks include:

  • Skyrocket — Launch into the air, sometimes with a high-pitched whistling sound, with a report at the end. Some varieties may emit sparks upon launch. Their sizes can range from an inch to about 6 inches (15 cm) long and 1⁄8 to 3⁄4 inch (3.2 to 19.1 mm) around, not including the stick. The smaller variety of these rockets are also commonly referred to as "Bottle Rockets" due to the commonality in which people use a bottle as a launching platform.
  • Firecracker — An explosion occurs on the ground, often in a series. They range from 1 to 16,000+ on a single string.
  • Smoke ball — Emits colored smoke for a few seconds. Colors typically include white, green, blue, yellow, orange, fuchsia, red and pink.
  • Multiple Rocket Launcher — More commonly known as the "Saturn Missile Battery" typically launches a series of 16 to 800 small rockets (dependent on the firework purchased) with a high-pitched whistle each time, often with a report.
  • Snake - a firework that, when lit, leaves a trail of ash.

Novelty fireworks

Novelty fireworks typically produce a much weaker explosion and sound. In some countries and areas where fireworks are illegal to use, they still allow these small, low grade fireworks to be used. A few examples include:[1]

  • Party Poppers — once a string is pulled to activate the charge, confetti is thrust into the air and produces a report.
  • Snaps — a small paper bag typically filled with gravel and a few micrograms of silver fulminate will produce a noise when thrown at a hard surface or stepped on.
  • Flying Lanterns (Sky lantern) — these paper lanterns float into the sky when lit. They emit a slight glow and are very commonly used at weddings and celebrations.
  • Paper Tanks & Vehicles — when lit, these small paper vehicles emit sparks that cause them to move around on the ground and commonly produce a loud bang at the end.
  • Party Bombs — a tube filled with toys which, when lit, shoots the toys into the air distributing them around the room. It is used in Switzerland (tischbombe).
  • Ground Bloom Flowers — a small cylinder that spins on the ground and changes color, spinning in such a way that it resembles a flower. Could be described as a large Jumping Jack.
  • Snakes (Black snake) — a small compressed pellet that, when lit, expands into a long snake-like object.

Use

Regulations

References

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